Support or anchors for vertical columns or the like



SUPPORTS OR ANCHORS FOR VERTICAL COLUMNS OR THE LIKE Filed March 9, 1954 1/ et- !6' 0 3 W45 Q} l5 4 l 20 J- I M F FF Fig. 20 Fig.3 Q Fig.6 q

INVENTOR Ronda/l W Johnson ATTORNEY United States Patent SUPPORTS 0R ANCHORS FOR VERTICAL COLUMNS OR THE LIKE Randall Worth Johnson, Dallas, Tex., assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to Albert C. Green, doing business as A and A Fence Company, Dallas, Tex.

Application March 9, 1954, Serial No. 414,996

2 Claims. (Cl. 189--30.5)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in supports or anchors for vertical columns or the like.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved support or anchor for columns such as fence corner posts, gate posts and the like, which provides means for holding said column in an erect position and for reducing the possibility of tilting of the column due to lateral loads or shifting of the ground in which the column is erected.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a ground anchor or support for vertical columns having a plurality of lateral braces disposed at points spaced substantially uniformly circumferentially about the column and amplifying the supporting base for the column.

A further object of the invention is to provide an anchor or support, of the character described, which is inexpensive to manufacture and simple to install.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described having lateral bracing members which are so constructed that they resist turning and twisting forces, and which can be readily installed in the ground in which the column is being erected.

A still further object is to provide an anchor of the character described which likewise serve to reinforce and brace the concrete footing for the pillar by lateral extensions projecting beyond the periphery of the footing and spaced substantially uniformly circumferentially around the footing.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the reading of the following description of devices constructed in accordance with the invention and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

Figure l is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing a fence post or column having an anchor constructed in accordance with the invention positioned thereon for supporting the column,

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view through a tubular post having one of the anchors mounted thereon, with the elongate rods removed,

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the pins or rods used with the base to form the support,

Figure 4 is an isometric view of a modified form of the support base,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of a further modifica tion of the base member for the support, and

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a modified form rod or pin for the base member of Figure 5.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 designates an elongate vertical column or post which is shown as being erected in a hole 11 dug in the ground G and which is surrounded with a concrete footing F poured in the hole and surrounding the column or post.

For providing an amplified base and limiting tilting and bending moving of the column in the footing and in the ground, a support or anchor 12 is mounted on the lower portion of the post 10 below the surface of the ground. The support includes a cylindrical sleeve 13 which has a close sliding fit on the exterior of the post and is held at the desired elevation thereon by means of a set screw 14 threaded through the sleeve and engaging the exterior surface of the post. A plurality of laterally extending arms 15 secured at their inner ends to the exterior of the sleeve by welding at 17,. or in any other suitable manner, or which may be integral with the sleeve, extend outwardly a substantial distance beyond the periphery of the sleeve and are provided at their outer ends with noncircular rod receiving tubes or sleeves 18 which are disposed at an angle to the vertical axis of the tubular body 13, but lie in a plane normal to a radial line extending axially outwardly from the body along the arms 15.

Elongate non-circular anchoring rods 20 are inserted in said tubular sleeves 18 and fit closely therein, said rods being driven into the ground surrounding the hole 11 in which the post or column 10 is being erected. The rods may be pointed on one end and may have a head 21 on the other end which limits their longitudinal movement through the sleeves 18, if desired, though such-head is not essential or necessary.

It will be seen, in Figures 1 and 2, that the elongate rods 20 are spaced laterally from the vertical axis of the column and of the tubular body 13, and that such rods extend a substantial distance along their length from the arms 15 so that the lower ends of the rods are spaced a substantial distance laterally from the column or post. Since these rods are driven into the solid ground surrounding the hole, it is obvious that they provide a more subsatntial and rigid support for the rod than would the soft dirt used to refill the hole. Also, due to their substantial length, they provide an amplified footing for the column extending beyond the limits of the concrete footing F;

After the rods have been driven through the sleeves [8, in the manner shown in Figure 1, the hole is filled with concrete, the rods and the body member being embedded in the concrete so as to become an integral part of the footing. The rods provide an amplified brace for the footing, whereby the column is held in erect position. Likewise, since the rods are positioned at uniformly spaced intervals surrounding the circumference of the footing F, it will be seen that the footing and the column supported thereby are braced in all directions laterally.

A modified form of the invention is shown in Figure 4, wherein the tubular body member 30 is provided with a plurality of laterally extending U-shaped arms 31 secured by Welding 32, or the like, or in any other satisfactory manner, to the exterior of the body. The arms are formed of an elongate flat strap of iron bent into a U-shape, and having a base 33 and elongate parallel arms 34. The base portion 33 of the U is welded to the tubular body. The outer ends of the arms 34 are provided with openings 35, preferably non-circular, matching each other and adapted to receive the elongate rods 20. The

- U-shaped arms are secured to tubular body in such a position that the axes of the openings 35 are disposed at an angle to the vertical axis of the tubular body, in the same manner as were the axes of the tubular members 18 of the form first described.

Thus, when the elongate rods 20 are inserted through the openings 35, the rods will assume substantially the position shown in Figure 1. This form of the arms and sleeve is economical to manufacture, and provides a rugged structure having a pair of spaced arms which permits the concrete to enter the space between the arms to bind the arms rigidly in place in the concrete, to further limit the twisting movement of the arms about their longitudinal axes extending laterally of the body.

A further modification of the arms on the body of the anchor is shown in Figure 5, wherein the body 40 is provided with a fiat strap arm 41 secured by welding or otherwise at its inner end 42 to the exterior of the body and having a loop or cylindrical sleeve 43 formed at its outer end by turning the outer end portion of the arm back upon itself in a loop to provide such sleeve. This form of the arm receives a round rod such as the rod 44 shown in Figure 6. The rod may, if desired, have a head 45 at one end and be pointed at the other end to facilitate entry into the ground and to limit movement of the rod through the sleeve 43. Otherwise, this form of the invention corresponds substantially identically to the form first described.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that an improved support or anchor for a vertical column or post has been provided, which is adapted to be mounted on the column below the surface of the ground and to receive a plurality of elongate rods or bars 20 which are driven into the solid ground exteriorly of the hole in which the column is being erected to provide an amplified base or support for the column; that the base member and the inner portions of the rods are embedded in and form a reinforcing part of the concrete of the footing in which the post or column is erected to provide a very rigid support for the column; and that the provision of the rods at a plurality of intervals spaced substantially uniformly around the periphery of the post and the footing provides for uniform support of the column whereby a support is provided against tilting in substantially any direction.

It will likewise be seen that the support or anchor is extremely simple in construction, and may be erected easily and by unskilled labor by driving a plurality of elongate rods through sleeves provided on the body portion of the anchor. If desired, a set screw may be provided in the tubular body member to prevent longitudinal movement of the post through said tubular body member of the support.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

vertical column including: a cylindrical tubular body; at least three equally spaced supporting arms exteriorly of said body and extending a substantial distance laterally therefrom substantially normal to the axis of the tubular body, each of said arms being in the form of a flat strap of metal bent into a U-shape having elongate parallel arms and a short base member, said short base member being welded to the exterior of the cylindrical body, the outer ends of the elongate parallel arms having matching square openings formed therein, the axes of the openings at the outer ends of the arms being disposed perpendicular to the axis of the laterally extending arm and at an angle to the axis of the body member but lying in a plane parallel to said axis.

2. A support for a vertical column including: a cylindrical tubular body; at least three uniformly circumferentially spaced supporting arms exteriorly of said body and extending a substantial distance laterally therefrom substantially normal to the axis of the tubular body, each of said arms being in the form of a flat strap of metal bent into a U-shape having elongate parallel arms and a short base member, said short base member being welded to the exterior of the cylindrical body, the outer ends of the elongate parallel arms having matching square openings formed therein, the axes of the openings at the outer ends of the arms being disposed perpendicular to the axis of the laterally extending arm and at an angle to the axis of the body member but lying in a plane parallel to said axis; and an elongate square rod slidably disposed in the openings at the outer end of each arm.

1. A support for a References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 201,541 Mabie Mar. 19, 1878 278,220 Carson May 22, 1883 355,217 Sams Dec. 28, 1886 2,502,807 Temmer Apr. 4, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 20,534 Great Britain Nov. 6, 1897 

